Thomas hits 3-run homer, Nationals beat Braves 7-2 to spoil Schwellenbach's debut

Lane Thomas hit a three-run homer and the Washington Nationals beat Atlanta 7-2 Wednesday night to spoil Braves right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach’s major league debut.

**Nationals Braves Baseball** Washington Nationals CJ Abrams (5) reacts after being hit during the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

**Nationals Braves Baseball** Marcell Ozuna (20) of the Atlanta Braves hits a single RBI during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

**Nationals Braves Baseball** Washington Nationals pitcher MacKenzie Gore (1) delivers during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

**Nationals Braves Baseball** Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz (20) attempts to help Washington Nationals Jacob Young (30) as he lays down after being hit during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

**Nationals Braves Baseball** Jacob Young (30) of the Washington Nationals stands up after being hit at bat during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

**Nationals Braves Baseball** Washington Nationals’ Lane Thomas (28) hits a double in the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

**Nationals Braves Baseball** Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz (20) hits during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

**Nationals Braves Baseball** Joey Gallo (24) of the Washington Nationals hits a single in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

ATLANTA (AP) — Lane Thomas hit a three-run homer and the Washington Nationals beat Atlanta 7-2 Wednesday night to spoil Braves right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach’s major league debut.

Schwellenbach (0-1), who had never pitched above Double-A, lasted five innings, allowing three runs on five hits with five strikeouts, a walk and a hit batter.

After a double in the fifth period, Schwellenbach hit Jacob Young in the head with a fastball when the No. 9 hitter ran into a bunt. Young fell face down at home plate and Schwellenbach immediately put both hands on his head and walked toward home plate.

Young was down for a minute, but stayed in the match. Two batters later, Thomas homered to give Washington a 3-1 lead. An inning later, Young hit a two-out, two-run single to make it 5-2. Kelbert Ruiz capped the Nationals’ scoring with a two-run single in the ninth that a sliding Michael Harris couldn’t make.

MacKenzie Gore (4-4) earned the win for the Nats, who won two of the first three games of the four-game series. Gore pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on six hits. He had 10 strikeouts and no walks.

Thomas was 3 for 4 with three RBIs and two steals and two runs, and Young was 1 for 2 with two RBIs. Ruiz was 2 for 5 with two RBIs and Joey Gallo had two hits. The Nationals tied a season high with five stolen bases.

Dylan Floro, Robert Garcia, Hunter Henry and Jordan Weems did not allow out of the bullpen in 3 2/3 innings. Nationals pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts.

FOLLOWING

Braves RHP Reynaldo López (2-2, 1.75) was scheduled to face Nationals RHP Trevor Williams (4-0, 2.29) on Thursday night in the final game of the four-game series.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Related Posts

Four years after the killing of George Floyd, police reforms are slow to materialise

I attended Kent State in 1970. We have to deal with protests better

Silver Alert issued for 90-year-old man from New Orleans